Shloka 44

Devanagari script

अलङ्कृतो विधानेन प्रेतत्वं तस्य नो भवेत् / एकादशे ऽह्नि सम्प्राप्ते वृषालाभो भवेद्यदि

Transliteration

alaṅkṛto vidhānena pretatvaṃ tasya no bhavet / ekādaśe 'hni samprāpte vṛṣālābho bhavedyadi

Translation

If the departed is duly honored according to the prescribed rites, he does not fall into the condition of a preta (a restless departed spirit). And if, upon the arrival of the eleventh day, a bull is obtained, then the rite is duly fulfilled in that respect.

Word by Word

• अलङ्कृतः: adorned/ritually prepared
• अलङ्कृतः: विधेय (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलङ्कृत (कृदन्त; √कृ धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय; ‘adorned/arranged’

• विधानेन: by the prescribed procedure
• विधानेन: करण (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रेतत्वम्: state of being a preta (departed spirit)
• प्रेतत्वम्: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेतत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भाववाचक-तद्धित (त्व)

• तस्य: for him/of that person
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंस, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपातः

• भवेत्: would be/should occur
• भवेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एकादशे: on the eleventh (day)
• एकादशे: कालाधिकरण (Time/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (एक + दश)

• अह्नि: on the day
• अह्नि: कालाधिकरण (Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सम्प्राप्ते: when (it) has arrived
• सम्प्राप्ते: कालाधिकरण (Absolute locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + √प्राप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय; लोकेटिव-अब्सोल्यूट (सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध) ‘when (it) has arrived’

• वृषालाभः: non-obtaining of a bull (lack of a bull)
• वृषालाभः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष + अलाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वृषस्य अलाभः)

• भवेत्: would be/should occur
• भवेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• यदि: if
• यदि: हेतु/शर्त (Condition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्यय (conditional particle)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue, instructing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: By/at the eleventh day (ekādaśāha).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Properly performed rites and honoring prevent the deceased from entering preta-state; obtaining a bull by the eleventh day completes an important requirement.

Vedantic Theme: Ritual causality (karma-phala) operating in subtle states; saṃskāra as a bridge between gross and subtle transitions.

Application: Prioritize correct procedure and respectful honoring; if a bull is not immediately available, ensure it is obtained by the eleventh day to fulfill the rite’s condition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa discussions of preta-lakṣaṇa and preta-śānti; Garuda Purana 2.5.46 (ekādaśāha offerings dear to the deceased)

Characters & Entities

• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of avoiding the preta state in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that proper performance of prescribed post-death rites prevents the deceased from becoming a preta, emphasizing ritual order (vidhi) as protective for the departed’s transition.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It implies a transitional vulnerability after death: without correct rites one may remain in a preta condition, while timely observances—especially around the eleventh day—support onward movement and settlement of the departed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow the family’s traditional antyeṣṭi and śrāddha procedures carefully (with competent guidance), and treat prescribed offerings/charity connected with the eleventh-day observance as a disciplined act of dharma rather than a mere formality.